Pressure-relief system



"Aug. 2o, 1929. H, G, HILL 1,725,455

PRESSURE RELIEF SYSTEM Filed Nov. 1, 1923 51 $1 Tow X I lwx lcnlto Patented- 20, 192?. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

nowann G. HILL, or manoxngvmemra, ASSIGNOR, IBY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE 'rnxns comrm, or NEW YORK, .11. vY.,- A conroaarron or DELAWARE.

PRESSURE-RELIEF SYSTEM.

Application filed November 1, 1923. Serial No. 672,284.

This invention relates to high pressure relief systems and has articular reference to mechanisms for relieving the pressure of inflammable or explosive fluids and for effectually reducing danger of fire when such pressure is relieved.

It is one object of the invention to provide in combination with a high pressure still and a relief valve therefor an auxiliary mechanism operative at a pressure relatively less than the pressure for which the main relief valve is adjusted, the auxiliary mechanism functioning to inject a non-inflammable fluid into the chamber into which the main relief .15 valve discharges.

Another object is to provide cooling means for said chamber.

Still another object is to provide a chamber into which the main relief valve discharges, of improved and eflicient construction.

Other objects will, appear from the "following description of the invention taken in connection with thedrawing, in' which there is shown a view in side elevation, with certain parts cut away, of the elements making up a pressure relief system of my invention.

Referring to'the drawing there is shownone embodiment of my invention applied to a high pressure still 1 having an outlet or vapor line 2 leadin through the extension 3 to the usual cgn ensers forming partof a distillation apparatus such as is employed in the refining of petroleum products and the like.

It is obvious that with high pressure stills such as those for which this invention is particularly adapted, the pipe lines 2 and 3 and the connections thereof are subject to 4 relatively high pressure, and since the products of distillation within the still are of highly inflammable nature it is desirable that the pressure should not exceed some definite limit to which the still and connections may be safely subjected. For the purpose of definitely limiting the pressure there is provided a main relief valve such as 10 comiected through the pipe connection 11 to the main vapor line 2, 3. As shown, the relief valve 0 takes the form of a relief valve described (1 claimed in the application. of Fantz and '11, Serial No. 466,858, filed May 4th, 1921, f0 relief valves (now Patent 1,533,640,

dated April 14, 1925), but it is understood that any desired form of relief, valve may be employed. Such relief valves are provided with adjustable means for predetermining the pressure at which the volatile fluid and gases shall be allowed to escape, this pressure being higher than that ordinarily obtained in the regular operation of the still 1 but lower than that which the stillwill safely withstand.

The outlet nozzleof the relief valve 10 dis-. charges through a discharge pipe 20 into a mixing chamber 21 in the lower portion of a suitable vessel or container 22 preferably. *formed of metal and which is suitably reinforced in any desired manner. A deflector 23 is provided in the lower mixing-chain- .ber 21 for deflecting the gases as they emerge out of the tube 20. The vessel 22 is provided with a chambered hood 24, interconnected with the lower chamber 21 by means of a the cone and a portion at least of the condensable constituents are thrown out. There is a whirling movement within the hollow cone and the liquid portions are thrown outwardly by centrifugal action. If desired, a

number of spiral deflectors may be disposed at the base of the cone to assist in throwing the liquid outwardly against the side of the hood. x

The hood is provided with an annular pocket 45 which serves as a receiver for condensate and a draw-01f line 46 is connected thereto for removing the condensate anddelivering it to a suitable receptacle. The d/raw-ofl line 46 also has a branch line 46 in open communication with the chamber 21 from which condensate is removed in a similar manner.

The intermediate portion of the vessel 22 between the chambers 21 and 24 is subdivided by a number of baffle-plates 26 wh1ch may be of any suitable metallic material perforated for the passage of the vertical tubes 25 and alternately terminated at opposite end portions to form staggered spaces be:

memes tween the plates and the walls of the vessel, through the tubes 25 into the chamber 24'. 65

so as to provide a tortuous passage for a cooling liquid through said intermedlate portion. The cooling liquid may be suppliedthrough a supply pipe 27 communicating with a suitable reservoir or pump, and the liquid flows through the tortuous passage formed by the staggered baflie plates 26 and is discharged through an outlet passage 28, and may flow therefrom back to the reservoir or pump or may be allowed to escape.

A source of non-inflammable vapor such assteam or the like is connected by means of 'a steam pipe 30 to a valve 31. The outlet of the valve is connected by a suitable pipe 32 to the mixing chamber 21. The valve 31 comprises a balanced valve of the spool type 33 connected by means of a stem 34 to a piston 35 slidablymounted within a cylinder 36. The stem 34: is provided with a collar 37 and a compression spring 38, whereby the valve 33 is yieldingly held in its closed position to prevent the flow of steam from the passage30 to the passage 32 under normal conditions.

The cylinder 36 is connected by means of a pipe 39 to the pipe connection 11 leading to the vapor line 2, 3, and the tension of the spring 38 is adjusted so that the piston 35 will only be actuated by the pressure of the. gases withinthefvapor line when the pressure exceeds a predetermined value. This I pressure is selected so as to be somewhat less than the pressure at which the relief valve- 10 will be actuated, the'diflerence in pressure being preferably about 25 pounds. The pressure for which the valve 31 is'adjusted should also be somewhat above the ordinary pressures to which the vapor line 2, 3 is subjected in regular operation.

In ordinary operation of the still 1, the pressure relief system comprising the valves 10 and 31 and the vessel 22 and associated parts are not actively employed, and have no effect upon the refining operation.vv When, however, the pressure rises and exceeds the value for which the valve 31 is adjusted the piston 35 is moved towards the right, as shown in the drawing, and the spool valve 33 isthereby moved so that an open line is and are exhausted to the atmosphere as before. The circulating. cooling medium effectually limits the temperature of the mixed gases and prevents their escape at a dangerous temperature.

Thus it will be seen that there is provided effective means for preventing conflagration due to the escape of inflammable vapors. The automatic means for supplying non-inflammable -fluid to prevent fire becomes effective inadvance of'the escape of the volatile gases and thus prepares the apparatus for preventing fire by driving out of the mixing chamber the air which is present therein.

Apparatus of preferred form and construction has been illustrated and described for the purpose of showing a way in which this invention may bepracticed, but the inventive thought upon which this application is based is broader than this illustrative embodiment. It is therefore understood that thescope of the invention is not to be limited by the present disclosure, reference being had tothe appended claims for thatpurpose. i What is claimed is: 1

1. In a pressure relief system for inflammable fluids, the combination with a main relief valve actuated by a predetermined excessive pressure to permit the escape of fluid, of an auxiliary valve adjusted to operate at a pressure relatively lower than said excess1ve pressure and arranged to apply non-inflammable fluid to the discharge opening of said-first named valve.

2. In a pressure relief system for inflammable fluids, the combination of a mixing chamber, a valve operative when the pressure of saidfluid exceeds a predeterminedexceeded for establishing-a path of escape for the inflammable fluid into said mixing chamber.

23. In apressure relief,systemiforzin-flami" mable fllllClS, ,the..-combinationrofia gmiiring c a s-:2 i .5 3137% operativewhen 'the pres' established from the steam pipe 3Q,.th 1 011gh-;;Sl1lf6 ofssaid fluid-exceeds aiirprdeterminedthe .valve and out through. the pipe 32 tot-he ,amount to,.admitenoneinflammablezfluid:int z. E mixing ehambe flk --1 -L @am-erroth r.vaperr I non-inflammable under ordinary conditions;,tiveWhQn-a relativelygreaterr pressure :is' e 1-11 th aisieqtedLianethe mixing-s umber,2r fd d" fi r g p a' pe j .wthezinflammableifluidintosa dmixing 'cliam j aber, and means for cooling said chamber! 4 In a;;-;pressurereliefeisystem ier: inflamafble fluids, it-he nombination of a: migrin ichamberniasvalire bperati veifiwhenl the 'res-= ,thepassage 20;,into-thesureiofasaid fluid fexceeds; a predetermmed' where they mix with amount to admit non-inflammable fluid into vapor already present said mixing chamber, a second valve operamixed vapors percolate tive when a relatively greater pressure is extherein. The

said-.mixingchamber; aav's'econ'drvalveopera= ceeded for establishing a path of escape for the inflammable fluid into said mixing chamber, and means comprising a plurality of tubes for permitting the escape of the mixed fluids to the atmosphere. t

5. In a pressure relief system for inflammable fluids, the combination of a mixing chamber, a valve operative when the pressure of said fluid cxceedsia predetermined amount to admit non-inflammable fluid into said mixing chamber, a second valve operative when a relatively greater pressure is exceeded for establishing a path of escape for the inflammable fluid into said mixing chamber, means comprising a plurality of tubes for permitting the escape of the mixed fluids to the atmosphere, and means for cooling said tubes.

6. In a pressure relief system for inflammable fluids, the combination of a mixing chamber, a valve operative when the pressure of said fluid exceeds a predetermined amount to admit non-inflammable fluid into said mixing chamber, a second valve operative when a relatively greater pressure is exceeded for establishing a path of escape for the inflammable fluid into said mixing chamber, means comprising a plurality of tubes for permitting the escape of the mixed fluids to the atmosphere, means for cooling said tubes,

and deflecting means positioned within said excessive pressure to permit the escape of said gases, of an auxiliary valve operatively connected with the still, adjusted to operate at a pressure relatively lower than the pressure of the relief valve and arranged to apply non-inflammable .fluid to the discharge opening of said first named valve.

8. In a pressure relief system for inflammable fluids, the combination of a mixing chamber, a valve operative when the pressure of the fluids exceeds a predetermined amount to admit non-inflammablefluid into the mix ing chamber, a second valve operative when a relatively higher pressure is exceeded-for establishinga path of escape for the inflam .mable fluid into the mixingchamber, a chambered hood disposed above the mixing chamber and having an outlet port communicating with the atmosphere, a co'nical'deflector disposed within the hood, and a plurahty of tubular members in open communication between the mixing chamber and the cham- "Tif d hood through which the mixed fluids I (pass. I

9. In a pressure relief system for inflammable fluids, the combination of pressure responsive means for automatically releasing the inflammable fluid, a source of non-inflam mable fluid, pressure responsive means for releasing the non-inflammable fluid, means for mixing the non-inflammable and inflammable fluids, means for separating the condensable constituents from the mixture, and means for removing the condensate.

10. In a pressure relief system for inflammable fluids, the combination with a pressure .still. for producingvolatile gases, of a plurality of valves operatively connected with the still, and means for successively opening the valves tofirst release an atmosp ere of steam and subsequently to release the excessive gases in the still into the atmo'sphere of steam.

11. The combination with a pressure still for producing volatile gases, 'of a pressure -rel'ief valve operativelyconnected with the still and adapted to be opened when a pre determined excessive pressure exists within the still, a second valve operatively connected with the still and adapted to be opened when a pressure relatively lower than that at which the first named valve is opened exists within the still, and arranged to apply noninflammable. fluid to the discharge opening of said first named valve prior to the open- 9 ing thereof. Y

12. In a pressure relief system for inflammable fluids, the combination with a pressure still for producing volatile gases, of a chambered member, pressure responsive means for introducing non-inflammable fluid into the chambered member when a predetermined excessive pressure in the. still is reached, a second pressure responsive means for subsequently establishing a path of escape for'the inflammable fluids from the still into said chambered member to mix with the non-inflammable fluid therein, and means'for cooling the mixturein said chambered member. 3 a

13. In., a pressure relief system for inflammable fluids, thecombination with a pressure stillfor producing volatile gases and a main relief valve operatively connected with the still and. adapted to be actuated by apredetermined excessive pressure to permit the escape of excess gases, of a container connected with the dischargeoutlet ofthe relief valve, and an independent valve adapted to be actuated by thepressure exerted by the gases in the 'still andto open at a lower pressure than the relief valve to per- Xmit the entryof non-inflammable fluid into the container prior to the discharge into saifil container of the hot gases from the sti 14. In pressure relief system for inflam- ,mable fluids, the combination with a pres- 4- memes sure still for producing volatile gases of a pair of valves severally connected with the still and adapted to open successively in response to the increasing pressures exerted by the gases in the still, the opening of the valve set against the lower pressure being adapted to permit the discharge of a noninflammable fluid to the discharge opening mable fluid.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 25th day of October, 1923,

HOWARD e. HILL. 

